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Binibining Pilipinas 2009
Marie-Ann Umali takes coveted World title; Manalo and Gersbach for Universe and International

MANILA, Philippines – The Binibining Pilipinas Pageant 2009 crowned its top three beauty queens early Sunday, starting with 23-year-old Melody Gersbach as Bb. Pilipinas-International, followed by 22-year-old Pamela Bianca Manalo as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and 22-year-old Marie-Ann Umali as Bb. Pilipinas-World.

Photo: Marie-Ann Umali smiles after winning Bb. Pilipinas-World title

Named before them were 26-year-old Regina Hahn as second runner-up and 20-year-old Richell Agalot as first runner-up.

The coronation was held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, with the show starting late on Saturday. It was aired live over GMA channels nationwide with Paolo Bediones and Iza Calzado as hosts.

The winners were crowned by their respective predecessors – Patricia Fernandez (Bb. Pilipinas-International), Jennifer Barrientos (Bb. Pilipina- Universe), and Danielle Castaño (Bb. Pilipinas 2008). Castaño replaced Janina San Miguel who resigned late last year after the death of her grandfather.

Winners' backgrounds Gersbach – who did not win any other award – was born in Germany, but her mother hails from the Bicol Region, where Gersbach manages the family restaurant in Albay. She is after all a graduate of the University of Asia and the Pacific with a degree in Management. She will compete at the Miss International 2009 pageant in Macau.

Manalo won several other awards – the Best in Swimsuit award, after which she also got a sponsor's honor, the Manila Bulletin Readers' Choice Award.

Manalo, a 22-year-old native of Manila, is an Advertising graduate of the Assumption College who now works as a flight attendant. She will represent the country at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in the Bahamas.

Earlier in the night, Umali also won the Best in Long Gown and Miss Photogenic plum. Umali, a native of Batangas City, took up Tourism at the College of Saint Benilde. She plans to be a flight attendant and dreams of putting up her own restaurant. She will attend the 2009 Miss World contest in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Runner-ups were Regina Hahn and Rachelle Angalot.

Candidate No. 4 Gizelle Jasmin Rivamonte was named as Miss Friendship, which carried the distinction of having been voted by the other candidates themselves.

There were 24 semifinalists, but Candidate No. 13, Sandra Inez Seifert, was disqualified a week before for having done a sexy pictorial that was published in a men's magazine. - GMANews.TV

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